Tag: severed popliteal artery

Even if you haven’t seen the clip, just hearing about Zach Miller’s recent knee injury during the Chicago Bears’ 20-12 loss to the New Orleans Saints is pretty gruesome. Dislocated knee. Multiple ligament damage. Severed popliteal artery. The injury was so severe it required immediate emergency surgery to revascularize Miller’s left leg with a saphenous vein graft.

There were whispers that he might lose the leg altogether.

What’s even more stunning about this injury is how it happened: Miller dislocated his knee during a non-contact play. In fact, he was in the process of catching a touchdown (which was later overturned) and simply appeared to step wrong.